Train-operating device.



No. 735,111. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903..

s. KASHI'OHI.

TRAIN OPERATING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1903.

Witness. W 5 2 '30- Inventor.

. v Atty.

7: Moms PEYERS co. Puma-Limb" wnsmusmu. n. c:

PATENTED AUG.- 4, 1903.

S. KASHICHI. TRAIN OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

Inventor,

A tty,

No. "735,111. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903', S. KASHIGHI. TRAIN OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1903. 4

no MODEL. 3 sums-sum a.

Inventor.

n45 NoRms PLYERS co, PHOTDLUHQ, Y4ASH1NGTON. a e.

UNITED STATES Patented August 4, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

TRAIN-OPERATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 735,11 1, dated August 4, 1903.

Application filed May 15, 1903. Serial No- 157,629. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, SUZUKI KAsHICHI,a subject of the Emperor of Japan, and a resident of the city of Shizuoka, in the Province of Suruga, Japan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train-Operating Devices, of which the following is-a specification.

This invention relates to means for enabling trains to take on or deposit passengers or to load or unload freight while in motion. This is accomplished by means of cars,which may be termed local or connection cars. In operating a railway in accordance with this invention the passengers or freight will be loaded into one of these cars which is on a side track adjacent to the main line. Then as the train passes by the station this local car will be automatically coupled to the last car of the train and drawn to the next station. Here it will be dropped and a similar car taken on and the process continued along the line. Transfers of passengers or freight to and from the local cars may be made while running between stations.

The object of this invention is to enable trains to save the time of stopping at depots or stations, and therefore cause a saving of fuel and enabling a more rapid exchange of passengers or freight. It will also enable trains now operated as through trains to take on and deliver. passengers or freight at all stations, thereby affording greater facilities and moreefficient service than under the present methods of operation.

In the drawings accompanying this application and forming a part thereof, Figure 1 is a plan view of the coupling mechanism used for engaging the local car shown just in position for coupling. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the coupling mechanism after the coupling has been effected. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coupling mechanism. Fig. 4 is a perspective View with parts broken away, showing a bridging or extension platform and railing to connect the local car with the rear train-car. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the frame on the car-truck which supports the car-body proper and is provided with springs, as shown, to prevent jarring. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views, partially diagrammatical, showing the operation of the jar-preventing springs.

The rear car 1 of the train is of the usual form of construction; but it is provided with a coupling 3 of peculiar construct-ion for engagement with a coupling-hook 4 on the local car 2. The coupling 3 consists of two plates 8 and 3", the forward plate 3 being pivoted to swing laterally on a pivot At the outer end of the plate 3 is a pin 5, while at the inner end of the plate 3 is a hinge 30, by means of which the plate is secured to the car 1. The plate 3 is supported forward of the hinge by means of a vertical threaded shaft 15, having a pin at its lower end to engage the plate. This shaft engages a fixed nut 15 in the platform of the car, andby turning the shaft the outer end of the coupling 3 may be raised or lowered, as desired. The plate 3 is preferably quad ran t-shaped and carries a vertical shaft or handle 16, which engages with aslot 16 in the platform and serves to swing the plate on the pivot 32 and also as a stop.

The coupling-b00114 is pivoted at 12 to the platform of the local car 2, so that it may swing laterally, and is of sufficient length so that the hook extends beyond the side of the car when it is swung around to be engaged. In order that the coupling-hook may not become unintentionally displaced when swung around to its engaging position, it is provided with a pin '7, which is grasped by a springclamp 8 on the bottom of the car.

As shown in Fig. 4, a bridge 10 is hinged at 31 to the connecting end of the local car to connect with the platform of the train-car and is provided with railing on each side to prevent accident to passengers. The hingeplate 10, which is attached to the local car, is pivoted at 29 to allow lateral movement, as when going around curves, and is further supported by pins 29 which engage with slots 28 in the plate 10. The railing is supported by a chain 9, extending from the outer end to a fastening 11 on the roof of the car 2.

The outer extremity of the bridge 10 is provided with a hole 1'7, which takes over a lug 13 on car 1 and is held in this position by means of a latch 14, Figs. 2 and 3. The end of the bridge may be raised to disengage with the lug 13 by means of a lever 18, one end of which it rests upon when in normal position. This lever is of the peculiar shape shown and is fulcruined at 18. The end nearest the car is held normally raised by a spring 18*, but may be forced down by a screw 20 when it is desired to force the outer end up to raise the end of the bridge.

An important feature of this invention is the means provided for preventing shocks to the contents of the local car. The car-body is not supported rigidly on the car-trucks, but is resiliently supported to allow a longitudinal movement on an auxiliary platform which forms substantially a second floor. On each side of the truck-platform 19 are rails 21, upon which the car-body is supported by wheels 22, and to prevent lateral displacement the platform is provided with guides 23 for the car-body. In grooves 24 in the platform are springs 25 and 25, which are engaged by depending lugs on travelers 26 on the car-body, Figs. 5, 6, 7. It will be readily seen that if the trucks are suddenly jerked in either direction the springs pressing against the lugs 26 will urge the car-body to take up the motion of the trucks without undue jarring.

The main track and switches may be laid out in any desirable manner to facilitate the coupling on and release of the local car, and the operation of the invention will be readily understood from the above description and the drawings. The coupling-hook in the local car 2 is swung around to be engaged by the coupling-pin on the coupler 3 of the train-car 1, also properly set. Then as the train comes along the main track the local will be coupled on and taken to the next station. Here it will be dropped off and stopped by means of the usual brakes and another local car taken on. It will be readily seen that the local could be placed on the main track to be caught by a train passing on the switch-track.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination with a car of a hinged coupling-plate, a screw for vertically adjusting said plate, a second coupling-plate pivoted to said hinged plate to move laterally a handle on said second plate, and a slot through the car-platform for said handle.

3. In a car-coupler a car, a pivoted coupling-hook adapted to swing laterally a pin on said hook and a spring-clamp on said car adapted to engage said pin when the hook is swung to the side of the car.

4. The combination with two cars, of a bridge hinged to one of said cars, a hole in the end of said bridge, a lug on the other car adapted to engage said hole and a switch for holding the end in engagement with said lug.

5. In combination with two cars, a bridge hinged to the end platform of one of said cars, means for allowing a lateral movement for said bridge, a lug on the platform of the other car adapted to engage an aperture in the bridge, a lever having one end normally under the end of said bridge and a screw engaging the other end of the lever whereby it may be forced down to disengage the bridge from the lug.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SUZUKI KASI-IIOI-II. Witnesses:

R. S. MILLER, M. SEKI. 

